The speech action repository: Evidence from a single case neuroimaging study

Abstract:

The speech-action-repository (SAR) is a neurofunctional and neurocom- putational model of syllable processing. The model is capable of storing sensori- motor representations of high-frequent syllables by a supramodal hub and its con- nections to unimodal sensorimotor state maps. In order to support the notion of the SAR, a functional imaging study was conducted. Within the fMRI-experiment a single case subject responded overtly and covertly to different visually and au- ditory presented homogeneous and heterogeneous syllable blocks. An auditory- visual conjunction analysis for determining this distributed supramodal hub, re- vealed an activation network, comprising bilateral precentral gyrus, left inferior frontal gyrus (area 44), left supplementary motor area, and bilateral superior tem- poral gyrus. The analysis of main effect of syllable priming, i.e. heterogeneous vs. homogeneous syllable-blocks, in order to detect neural activation relating to access of the state maps, revealed an activation pattern, distributed over the frontal, tem- poral, and parietal lobe. These results are compatible in agreement with the notion of the SAR. Thus, the present study provides evidence for the neural representation of the SAR, which is in line with the Kr¨oger model.


Year: 2013
In session: Werkzeuge und Messverfahren
Pages: 128 to 135